Regression approach to tire reliability analysis

The paper considers an empirical approach to the root-cause analysis of a certain kind of automobile tire failure. Tire life data are obtained from a laboratory test, which is developed to duplicate field failures. A number of parameters related to tire geometry and physical properties are selected as explanatory variables that potentially affect a tire’s life on test. Analysis of the life test data is performed via the Cox survival regression model. The paper also elaborates on the application of an ordinary (non-survival) linear regression to modeling the failure initiation and propagation. The developed statistical models help to identify the elements of tire design affecting the probability of tire failure due to the failure mode in question. q 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.